Ham & Black bean soup is a hearty meal for lunch or supper. Warming with deep rich flavour, it's a snap to make! <br /> <br />Serves 6 <br />Ingredients: <br />1 pound (455g) dried black beans,rinsed <br />1 pound (455g) ounces ham steak <br />2 bay leaves <br />5 cups (1.25L) water <br />1/4 tsp (1 mL) baking soda <br />1 tsp (5 mL) course salt <br /> <br />3 Tbsp (45 mL) olive oil <br />2 large onions, chopped fine <br />1 large carrot, chopped fine <br />2 ribs celery, chopped fine <br />½ tsp (2 mL) table salt <br />5 - 6 medium cloves garlic, minced <br />½ tsp (2 mL) red pepper flakes <br />1½ Tbsp (22 mL) ground cumin <br />6 cups (1.5L) low-sodium chicken broth <br />2 Tbsp (30 mL) cornstarch <br />2 Tbsp (30 mL) water <br /> <br />Method: <br />Place beans, ham, bay, water, and baking soda in large pot with tight-fitting lid. Bring to a boil over med-high heat. Stir in salt, reduce heat to low, then cover and simmer until beans are tender (about 1½ hours). Do not drain beans, discard the bay leaves and remove ham steak, cutting it into smallish bite sized pieces. <br />Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over med-high heat; add onions, carrot, celery, and salt and cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are soft. Reduce heat to med-low and add garlic, pepper flakes, and cumin; cook, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes. Stir in beans (with cooking liquid), and chicken broth. Increase heat to med-high and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for about ½ hour. <br />Ladle 3 cups of beans and liquid into a blender; process until smooth then return to the pot. Whisk together cornstarch and water until combined, then gradually stir about half of this mixture into soup. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, to fully thicken. Add more cornstarch mixture if you wish the soup to be thicker. Just before serving add the cut up ham. <br /> <br />Le Gourmet TV is all about food, cooking, recipes, cocktails, and more. <br />Subscribe to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=legourmettv <br />Website: http://www.legourmet.tv <br />Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeGourmetTV <br />FB: ...
